Halls Outdoor Education

What Halls Outdoor Education does

Halls Outdoor Education is a privately held, founder-operated outdoor education provider founded in 1994 by Anthony Hall and headquartered in Gembrook, Victoria, Australia. The company delivers multi-day residential school camps, journey-based expeditions (2–20 days), single-day activity programs, and school holiday camps for children and teens, serving primarily Victorian primary and secondary schools and, to a lesser extent, community groups and government partners. Its core technology is physical infrastructure rather than software: three owned venues across Victoria — Wombat Corner Camp (144 beds, Emerald/Dandenong Ranges), Stringybark Lodge (84 beds, Gembrook), and Lakewood Park (280-acre working farm, Gippsland Lakes) — supported by an in-house coach and minibus fleet with capacity for 180 people and a full catering operation.

Halls makes money through unit-priced professional services: per-camper holiday camp pricing ($710–$1,320 for 5-day programs with deposits), quotation-based school group bookings with Bronze/Silver/Gold tier options, casual group-leader staffing at $333–$468/day, and ancillary transport and catering add-ons. Go-to-market is sales-led and relationship-driven: a dedicated team of School Managers is embedded in partner schools (e.g., Ivanhoe Grammar School) to design and deliver sequential year-level programs, supplemented by direct bookings via the company website and Instagram-driven top-of-funnel awareness. The business is diversified across four customer segments — schools (primary), community groups, holiday-camp parents, and government/community partners — but is concentrated geographically within Victoria.

The company operates without external funding, is family-led (founder Anthony Hall alongside sons Darcy and Angus in management roles), and holds multiple industry accreditations including CAMPS, Sustainable Tourism, ACA V Member, and Outdoors Victoria affiliate membership. Over its 29-year history Halls has logged 219,537 camp nights and 281,330 participant days. It is not technology-led and has no disclosed digital product, app, API, or AI capability; competitive advantage rests on owned venues, qualified outdoor education staff, institutional school relationships, and brand longevity in the regional Victorian market.

Name

Halls Outdoor Education

Legal name

Halls Outdoor Education

Website

https://hallsoutdoored.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Halls Outdoor Education is a Victorian outdoor education provider founded in 1994 that delivers multi-day school camps, journey expeditions, and holiday camps for children and teens across three owned venues. It serves primarily Victorian primary and secondary schools via an embedded School Manager partnership model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Outdoor Education Services

NAICS

Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214), RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Recreational Camps (7212), Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Multi-Activity Enrichment Camps (Academic + Arts + Sports) (EDAMALAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Adventure Base Camps (Trek/Climb/Expedition Camps) (THAGAOAG), Youth Adventure Camps & Summer Programs (THAAAOAB), Group Camping & Scout Camps (THAGAOAI)

Keywords

• Outdoor education programs
• School camp services
• Adventure activities
• Residential camp programs
• Outdoor leadership training

Headquarters

HQ city

Gembrook

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. School Camp Programs: Multi-day residential outdoor education programs for schools with full catering and activity packages. Programs range from Bronze, Silver, Gold centre-based options to fully catered journey-based expeditions.
2. Holiday Adventure Camps: Teen holiday programs (ages 12-15) offering residential camp experiences with all activities, food, supervision included. Winter camps at Stringybark Lodge and Wombat Corner.
3. Day Programs: Single-day outdoor activity programs including caving, mountain biking, rafting, climbing, and scuba diving for schools and groups.
4. Transport Services: In-house coach and minibus transport for groups to and from program venues, reducing overall program costs for clients.
5. Staffing/Group Leader Services: Provides qualified outdoor education staff and group leaders to accompany school programs, with daily rates ranging from $333 to $468.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Halls Outdoor Education designs and delivers outdoor education programs for schools and community groups from three owned Victorian venues (Wombat Corner Camp, Lakewood Park Camp, Stringybark Lodge). Programs span multi-day journey-based expeditions (2–20 days), centre-based camps in Bronze/Silver/Gold tiers, and single-day activities. The company also operates direct-to-parent school holiday camps for children (5–12) and teens (12–15), supported by an in-house transport fleet, full catering with dietary accommodations, and industry skills training via a partnership with Outer Eastern Training Institute.

Product overview

Halls Outdoor Education is an outdoor education provider operating three distinct camp venues across Victoria, Australia: Wombat Corner Camp (144 beds, Emerald), Lakewood Park Camp (280 acres, Gippsland Lakes), and Stringybark Lodge (84 beds, Gembrook). The company offers a portfolio of programs including Journey-Based Programs (2-20 day expeditions), Day Programs (single-day activities), and Centre-Based Programs (venue-based experiences with Bronze/Silver/Gold tiers). Additional services include Industry Skills Training via OETI partnership, in-house transport (180-person capacity), and full catering options. Operating since 1994, the company serves schools, community groups, and runs school holiday camps for children ages 5-15.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Journey-Based Programs Immersive expedition-style experiences spanning 2 to 20 days through Australian landscapes including the Australian Alps, Murray River, Arapiles, Grampians, Otway's National Park, and Wilsons Promontory. Activities include hiking, mountain biking, rafting, canoeing, climbing, abseiling, and caving. Designed for school and community groups seeking extended outdoor expeditions.
• Day Programs Single-day outdoor activities including abseiling, climbing, caving, day walking, orienteering, mountain biking, cycle touring, rafting, canoeing, and scuba diving. Designed to build skills and achieve targeted learning outcomes for school and community groups.
• Centre-Based Programs Programs conducted at Halls Outdoor Education's three Victorian venues, offered in Bronze, Silver, and Gold tiers ranging from self-catered self-run programs to fully catered experiences with qualified staff. Designed for school and community groups seeking venue-based residential programs.
• Wombat Corner Camp 144-bed accommodation camp located next to Emerald Lake Park in the Dandenong Ranges, 55km from Melbourne. Activities include flying fox, trampolines, mini golf, gaga ball, bush hut building, and canoeing. Hosts school camps, weekend group hire, and school holiday camps for ages 5–12.
• Lakewood Park Camp 280-acre working farm with its own lake, located 400 meters from Masons Bay on the Gippsland Lakes. Features water activities (canoeing, sea kayaking, stand-up paddling, sailing) and land adventures (mountain biking, archery). Hosts school holiday camps for ages 12–15.
• Stringybark Lodge 84-bed accommodation camp on 26 acres near Gembrook, over an hour from Melbourne CBD. Activities include giant flying fox, archery, bush hut building, raft building, mountain bike riding, abseiling, caving, and overnight hikes. Hosts teen holiday camps for ages 12–15.
• Industry Skills Training Courses Outdoor education training courses delivered in partnership with Outer Eastern Training Institute (RTO). Courses cover Bushwalking, Canoe/Kayak, Rock Climb/Abseil, Rafting, Skiing, Challenge Ropes, Mountain Bike, and Snorkelling, targeting individuals seeking a career in outdoor education.
• Transport Services Company-owned coaches and minibuses for group transportation to and from program venues, with total capacity for 180 people, reducing logistics costs for school and community group clients.
• Catering Services Full catering for journey-based and day programs with menus designed to meet program needs. Options include small group catering using trangias or whole group catering using pots and woks. Dietary requirements (e.g., allergies, complex dietaries) are accommodated.

Quantifiable outcome

• 219,537 nights spent on camp
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Outer Eastern Training Institute (OETI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHalls Outdoor Education partners with Outer Eastern Training Institute (OETI) to provide Industry Skills Training Courses for those seeking a career in outdoor education. Courses include Bushwalking, Canoe/Kayak, Rock Climb/Abseil, Rafting, Skiing, Challenge Ropes, Mountain Bike, and Snorkelling.
• DEECA (Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with DEECA for senior group outdoor programs. DEECA representatives participate in guided outdoor experiences organized through Halls Outdoor Education.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• PGL: UK-headquartered global leader in outdoor education and adventure camps, operating dozens of centres across Europe and serving school and youth groups at scale. Useful as an international incumbent benchmark for what scaled multi-venue outdoor education can look like operationally.

Direct peers

• Outward Bound Australia: Australia's leading outdoor adventure education charity, running expedition-style programs (typically 7-21 days) for youth and schools. Comparable to Halls' journey-based programs in terms of activity mix, experiential learning outcomes, and school engagement model.
• The Outdoor Education Group (OEG): One of Australia's largest outdoor education providers, Victoria-headquartered, delivering multi-day school camps, journey programs, and outdoor adventure activities. Directly competes with Halls for Victorian school contracts across the same primary customer segment and program categories.
• YMCA Victoria (Camping & Outdoor Education): Operates residential camp programs for schools and youth in Victoria including multi-activity programs, holiday camps, and venue hire. Comparable in primary audience (primary/secondary schools), multi-venue structure, and family/community holiday camp revenue streams.
• Camp Manyung: Victorian residential camp offering school programs, family getaways, and adventure activities focused on the Mornington Peninsula region. Direct comparison point for Halls' Wombat Corner-style mid-Victoria camp offerings and school group pricing structures.
• CYC Adventure: Australian not-for-profit camp operator (formerly Christian Youth Camps) running school camps, holiday programs, and venue hire across multiple Victorian sites including bay, river, and bushland environments. Closely mirrors Halls' venue-based multi-activity offering to schools and community groups.

Regional players

• Department of Education Victoria Outdoor Education Providers: Government and quasi-government providers of outdoor education programs across Victorian schools, often operating in partnership with private operators. Adjacent peer category relevant to understanding funding flows and school camp subsidies that affect Halls' core market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/hallsoutdoored
• Xx.com/hallsoutdoored
• Facebookfacebook.com/hallsoutdoored

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Halls Outdoor Education